Pressure actuated valve



Nov. 26, 1968 H. L. MASON 3,412,755

' PRESSURE ACTUATED VALVE Filed May 24, 1966 17kg? FIG. I.

, -P TO SHELTER INVENTOR. HARRY L. MASON BYZ ATTORNEY. 1

United States Patent States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed May 24, 1966, Ser. No. 552,644 9 Claims. (Cl. 137-517) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to a pressure actuated valve and more particularly to a blast actuated closure valve for a shelter ventilation system.

One of the problems which has been exceedingly difficult for engineers involved in the research and development of shelters, which are to withstand nuclear explosions, has been the construction of an adequate blast closure device for the shelter ventilation systems. A blast closure valve must be capable of closing off high blast overpressures and must be responsive to some blast condition for closing the ventilation duct prior to the entrance of the blast wave. A blast closure valve must remain in a sufficiently open position with respect to the ventilation duct or system so that the air demands of the occupants of the shelter are adequately supplied and yet upon occurrence of a nuclear blast must very quickly seal off the duct and prevent entrance of the blast wave. Many of the prior art blast closure devices have been sluggish in their operation and have not closed off the shelter ventilation system quickly enough to prevent the blast wave from entering the shelter. Further, many of the prior art devices are quite complex and their cost of production to meet the demands of this country would be prohibitive.

The present invention provides a very simple blast closure valve which is quickly actuable by a nuclear blast wave and yet will withstand the high overpressures therefrom. This has been accomplished by providing the blast valve with: a pair of closure elements for closing the shelter duct; pivoting the closure elements at their ends so that they in essence form a hinge; and providing means for supporting the closure elements with their pivotal axis freely translatable along the central axis of the ventilation duct so that the closure elements are pivotable from an open conduit position to a conduit engaging closed position. In this manner a pressure condition from one side of the closure elements will upon impingement on the closure elements pivot them from the open position to the closed position with respect to the ventilation duct. The closure elements are fully responsive to the blast wave and upon closing against the ventilation duct will prevent the entry of the blast wave into the shelter which is to be protected. This closure will also prevent the entry of any radioactive material that may fall within the location of the shelter.

An object of the present invention is to provide a quick acting and simply constructed valve which is actuable by a pressure condition.

Another object is to provide an efficient and simply constructed blast closure valve for the ventilation system of a shelter wherein the valve is actuable by the blast wave from a nuclear explosion.

A further object is to provide a quick acting and simply constructedblast closure valve which is cooperable with the ventilation duct of a shelter system wherein the valve is actuable to close off the ventilation duct upon the impingement of a blast wave thereon and upon closure will seal off the shelter ventilation system from high blast overpressures.

Other objects and advantages and novel features of the ice invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a partially separated isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in a fully open position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a partially cut away plan view of the invention in a fully closed position and in dotted lines shows the invention in a fully open position;

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the valve with the conduit removed; and

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a biasing means taken along plane IVIV of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is cooperable with a fluid conduit such as a ventilation duct 10. The ventilation duct 10 may be an air supply duct for a shelter wherein it is desirable that the duct supply sufiicient outside air to meet the occupants needs until the occurrence of a nuclear explosion. Upon the occurrence of a nuclear explosion it is imperative that this duct be quickly closed off to prevent the entrance of a shock wave into the shelter. The present invention is located upstream from an intake end 12 of the duct and may be cooperable with the duct intake to sealably close off the duct upon the occurrence of a nuclear explosion. While reference will be made to upstream and downstream locations with respect to the duct 10, these references are not intended to be limiting and are only intended to facilitate description of the invention since the duct 10 may 'be either an intake or exhaust type of duct.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the exemplary valve 14 may include a pair of closure elements 16 and 18 which are located upstream from the intake end 12 of the ventilation duct. The closure elements may be flat plates which have ends pivotably connected together by any suitable means such as a hinge 20, having hinge sleeves 21 and 22 suitably connected to closure element 16 and hinge sleeve 24 suitably connected to closure element 18. The closure elements 16 and 18 are shown in an open pivoted position with respect to the duct 10 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the closure elements are shown in two positions: a fully closed position by solid lines and a fully open position by dotted lines. In the open position the closure elements 16 and 18 are spaced from the intake end of the duct so as to allow the entrance of air into the shelter, and in the closed position the closure elements 16 and 18 sealably engage the intake end 12 of the duct. In order to accomplish this sealable engagement between the closure elements and the duct, the intake end 12 of the duct is notched to sealably mate with the closure elements when the closure elements are in their downstream closed position, as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 2.

In order to obtain the desired movement of the closure elements 16 and 18 with respect to the intake end 12 of the ventilation duct, a means for supporting closure element ends which are opposite from the closure element pivoted ends is provided so that the closure elements are pivotable from the fully open upstream position to the closed duct engaging downstream position. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support means may connect the closure elements to the duct. The support means may include front wall extensions 26 and 27 which extend upward, downward and laterally outward from the intake end 12 of the duct and side wall extensions 28 and 29 which are connected to the front Wall extensions 26 and 27 respectively and extend upstream on both sides of the closure elements 16 and 18. A "bottom plate 30 and a top plate 31 may extend across and be connected to the front wall extensions 26 and 27 and the upstream side plate extensions 28 and 29 for supporting and enclosing the closure elements 16 and 18. The support means may further include rods 32 and 34 which are connected to the outer opposite ends of the closure elements 16 and 18 respectively by any suitable means such as welding. These outer rod ends 32 and 34 of the closure elements are restrained in their movement by pairs of flanges which are connected to the side plate 28 or 29 and to the bottom plate or the top plate 31. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a top pair of spaced apart flanges 36 and 38 and a bottom pair of spaced apart flanges 40 and 42 may be connected for slidably receiving the rod 32 and a similar top pair of spaced apart flanges 44 and 46 and a bottom pair of spaced apart flanges 48 and 50 may be connected for receiving the rod 34. This arrangement allows the ends of the closure elements 16 and 18 to be freely slidable transverse to the central or longitudinal axis of the duct 10 while the pivot or hinge axis of the closure elements is freely translatable generally along such longitudinal axis.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and in detail in FIG. 4, a means may be provided for biasing the closure elements 16 and 18 toward their pivotal connection. The biasing means may be spring arrangements which are mounted on the side plates 28 and 29 so as to operably engage the rods 32 and 34 and bias the closure elements 16 and 18 as described. The spring arrangement on each side of the side plates 28 and 29 may be identical; therefore, only one arrangement taken along plane IV-IV of FIG. 3 will be described in detail herein. As shown in FIG. 4, this spring arrangement may include a plunger rod 58 which slidably extends through the side wall 28 and has an end 60 which is engageable with the rod 32 and has an opposite end which supports a transverse spring retainer plate 62. The retainer plate 62 may be mounted to the plunger rod 58 by any suitable means such as welding. The spring arrangement may further include a flanged spring container 66 which is mounted to the side plate 28 by bolt and nut combinations which extend through the container flange and the side plate 28.

The container 66 is mounted to the side plate 28 and contains the plunger 58 as well as a compression spring 68. The compression spring 68 is located between the spring plate retainer 62 and the far end of the container 66 so as to apply an inward force on the plunger rod 58. If desired the container 66 may be provided with a cap 67 which is threaded on the outer end of container 66 for easy removal of the components therein. The spring arrangements operate on opposite ends of the closure elements 16 and 18 in such a manner as to buckle or fold the closure elements about hinge 20 in an upstream or downstream position depending upon which direction the closure elements are misaligned from a straight across aligned position with respect to one another.

It is desirable that the spring or biasing means operate on the closure elements 16 and 18 to quickly close the elements against the ventilation duct upon the occurrence of a nuclear explosion. This has been accomplished by a stop means which engages the closure elements 16 and 18 so that they are stopped in an open slightly upstream folded position. In this manner the inward spring force on the closure elements 16 and 18 will bias the closure elements 16 and 18 against the stop means and retain the closure elements 16 and 18 in the desired upstream folded position. The stop means for stopping the upstream movement of the closure elements 16 and 18 may be a tab which is connected to a hinge sleeve such as hinge sleeve 24 by any suitable means such as welding and radially extends therefrom to engage closure element 16 and stop the upstream movement of the closure elements in the slightly upstream position. How far upstream the tab 70 stops the closure elements 16 and 18 is a matter of design since the further upstream they are stopped the greater force or pressure will be required to move them from this position past their aligned straight across position. In designing the valve for actuation by a blast wave from a nuclear explosion it is desirable that the closure elements 16 and 18 be stopped at a very slightly upstream position so that they are highly responsive to the presence of the blast wave. Upon the blast wave forcing the closure elements 16 and 18 past an aligned straight across position the spring force from the compression spring 68 in conjunction with the continuing blast wave will quickly close the closure elements 16 and 18 against the intake end 12 of the duct.

OPERATION In the operation of the present invention the closure elements 16 and 18 will be manually cocked to the upstream folded position which will then allow air to freely enter the shelter (not shown) through the shelter duct 10. Upon the detonation of a nuclear weapon upstream from the valve 14 a shock wave travels toward the shelter and will first impinge upon the upstream sides of the closure elements 16 and 18. The impingement of the shock wave exerts a downstream force on the closure elements 16 and 18 causing them to move in a downstream direction from their slightly upstream folded position. When the closure elements 16 and 18' pass the aligned straight across position the compression springs act on the rod ends 32 and 34 of the closure elements in conjunction with the continuing downstream force of the blast wave to buckle the closure elements 16 and 18 about the pivot axis of hinge 20 in a downstream direction until the closure elements 16 and 18 mate with and sealably engage the intake end 12 of the ventilation duct. This engagement of the closure elements 16 and 18 with the duct seals the ventilation duct from the nuclear blast eifects. This engagement also seals the ventilation system from nuclear fallout which often occurs after a nuclear explosion. The closure elements 16 and 18 could be allowed to remain in the downstream folded engaging position with the duct 10 until such time that radiation hazards have diminished sufficiently to allow recocking the closure elements 16 and 18 to the slightly upstream folded position and once again allow air to enter the shelter.

It is now readily apparent that the present invention provides a simply constructed and highly responsive blast closure device for shelter ventilation ducts. The blast closure valve is actuable by the blast wave and will quickly seal off the ventilation duct from the hazardous effects due to blast and nuclear fallout. It is to be understood that the invention in its broad concept may be used as a valve for partially or completely closing off any fluid conduit such as a gas line or oil line. Further, while the biasing means as described above is very desirable in a blast closure valve, it is to be understood that in some instances the biasing means may be dispensed with. In some embodiments the weight of the closure elements may be used as an aid in providing for a quick closure.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A valve for a fluid conduit wherein the valve is actuable by a fluid pressure condition comprising:

a pair of closure elements for closing said conduit;

said closure elements having ends which are pivotally connected; and

means for supporting the closure elements with their pivotal axis freely translatable along the central axis of the conduit so that the closure elements are pivotable from an open conduit position to a conduit engaging closed position, whereby said pressure condition will actuate the closure elements from said open position to said closed position.

2. A valve for a fluid conduit wherein the valve is actu- 6 able by an upstream high pressure fluid condition comrestraining a respective one of each of said rods from prising: a downstream side thereof,

a pair of closure elements for closing said conduit; whereby said rods, under the restraining influence of said said closure elements having ends which are pivotally flanges, are slidable therealong and turnable dun'ng moveconnected; 5 ment of the closure elements. means for supporting opposite ends of the closure ele- 6. A valve as claimed in claim 5 wherein the biasing ments to said conduit so that closure elements are means includes: pivotable from an open upstream folded position compression spring means mounted to said conduit and which opens said conduit to a closed conduit engagengaging a respective one of each of said rods. ing downstream folded position which closes said 10 7. Avalve as claimed in claimlwherein: conduit; the closure element stop means includes a tab conmeans for engaging the closure elements and stopping nected to one of the closure elements in a position their pivotable movement in a slightly upstream to engage the other closure element when the closure folded position; and elements are in said slightly upstream folded posimeans for biasing said closure elements toward their 1 tion; and

pivotal connection so that when the closure elements the supporting means includes: are in the slightly upstream folded position they are a pair of closure elements for closing said conduit; retained by an upstream biasing force component and until the pressure condition overcomes said force a pair of spaced apart laterally extending flanges component at which time the biasing means exerts a for receiving a respective one of each of said downstream force component on the closure elerods. ments to snap them closed against the fluid conduit. 8. A valve as claimed in claim 2 including: 3. Avalve as claimed in claim2 including: the pivotal connection of the closure elements ends said fluid conduit having a notched intake forming a comprises a hinge.

valve seat which is shaped to sealably receive the 9. A valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the closure closure elements in their downstream folded posielement stop means includes: tion; and a tab mounted to and radially extending from a respecthe supporting means positioning the closure elements tive hinge sleeve.

so that the closure elements sealably engage the notched intake when they are in the downstream References Clted folded position. UNITED STATES PATENTS 4. A Valvqas claimed in Claim .3 wherein: y each of said closure elements mcludes a plate. 3 180 538 4/1965 Brown 251 75 5. A valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein the support- 3:301:168 1 1 Schindler g 1 means mcludes= 3,329,163 7/1967 Barker 137601 lo a h o d 't a ;;;.i fsal 0p p 081 6 ends of the WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

a lateral extending flange connected to the conduit and W. H. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A VALVE FOR A FLUID CONDUIT WHEREIN THE VALVE IS ACTUABLE BY AN UPSTREAM HIGH PRESSURE FLUID CONDITION COMPRISING: A PAIR OF CLOSURE ELEMENTS FOR CLOSING SAID CONDUIT; SAID CLOSURE ELEMENTS HAVING ENDS WHICH ARE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED; MEANS FOR SUPPORTING OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE CLOSURE ELEMENTS TO SAID CONDUIT SO THAT CLOSURE ELEMENTS ARE PIVOTABLE FROM AN OPEN UPSTREAM FOLDED POSITION WHICH OPENS SAID CONDUIT TO A CLOSED CONDUIT ENGAGING DOWNSTREAM FOLDED POSITION WHICH CLOSES SAID CONDUIT; MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE CLOSURE ELEMENTS AND STOPPING THEIR PIVOTABLE MOVEMENT IN A SLIGHTLY UPSTREAM FOLDED POSITION; AND MEANS FOR BISAING SAID CLOSURE ELEMENTS TOWARD THEIR PIVOTAL CONNECTION SO THAT WHEN THE CLOSURE ELEMENTS ARE IN THE SLIGHTLY UPSTREAM FOLDED POSITION THEY ARE RETAINED BY AN UPSTREAM BIASING FORCE COMPONENT UNTIL THE PRESSURE CONDITION OVERCOMES SAID FORCE COMPONENT AT WHICH TIME THE BIASING MEANS EXERTS A DOWNSTREAM FORCE COMPONENT ON THE CLOSURE ELEMENTS TO SNAP THEM CLOSED AGAINST THE FLUID CONDUIT. 